The Passing of a Turfgrass Icon: Dr. Joe Vargas, Jr. (1942-2024)
By Kevin Frank, Michigan State
Dr. Joe Vargas, Jr. passed away on April 18 after an illustrious 55-year career in turfgrass pathology at Michigan State University. It’s rare for anyone to dedicate over a half century to their career – and his commitment improved the golf experience in ways most golfers would likely never understand.
Dr. Vargas was an accomplished researcher, teacher, and extension specialist. He was known throughout the world for his diagnostic skills helping solve turfgrass problems for golf course superintendents. Dr. Vargas was always willing to help golf course superintendents solve puzzles they had on their course. It didn’t matter the time or day, if a superintendent needed help diagnosing a problem, Dr. Vargas would be on his way. He was a true friend of the golf course superintendent and of anyone looking to improve turf conditions.
He had numerous research contributions including probably most famously determining that Poa annua (annual bluegrass) did not die in the heat during the summer as most assumed – but rather diseases were killing it. He also discovered that excess sulfur caused black layer in putting greens and developed fungicide application timing models for diseases such as anthracnose and pink snow mold. In short, over his entire colorful career, Dr. Vargas improved turfgrass conditions for golfers around the entire world.
Dr. Vargas was known around the globe giving over 1,000 presentations at conferences and educating over 2,000 students at MSU. “In the turf world, Joe was one of the best presenters whenever, wherever and to whomever, and I mean ever,” says Dr. David Gilstrap, who was both his colleague and graduate student. "In the classroom, students crowded toward the front, for a change, and at conferences it was often standing room only.”
Dr. Vargas authored/co-authored several textbooks and received numerous awards including the MSU Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Award in 2019, USGA Green Section Award in 2007, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Distinguished Service Award in 1997, and induction into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 2016.
Dr. Vargas was a colleague, mentor, teacher, and friend to many in the turfgrass and golf industry and he will be sorely missed.
